| 1940 VAFA season | |
|---|---|
| Date | ended 22 June 1940 |
| Teams | 34 |
The1940 VAFA season was the 45th season of theVictorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). The season was curtailed on 22 June withoutpremierships awarded as a result ofWorld War II, and the next season was not held until1946.[1][2]
This was the only time the VAFA had curtailed a season until2021, when competition was suspended due to the impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Prior to the start of the season,Brightonvale,Geelong andOld Brightonians withdrew from the competition (with Brightonvale folding entirely), whileBlack Rock District,Pascoe Vale andPower House were admitted.[4] However, Black Rock District withdrew prior to the start of the season.[5] The 1940 season set a new record for the number of VAFA teams competing.[6]
It initially appeared thatWorld War II would not heavily affect the VAFA.[7] This was despite many players joining theSecond Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at the end of the1939 season, and other players joining during the 1940 season.[8][9][10]
However, on 3 June 1940, the VAFA executive announced that the season would be abandoned "owing to the present critical situation overseas and the necessity of our young men preparing themselves to play their part in the defence ofthe Empire".[7][11]
The executive's decision was immediately opposed by a number of clubs, includingGlen Huntly,South Camberwell andState Savings Bank, who advocated for continuing the season until the government requested a cessation.[7][12]
Over the following days, a petition asking the executive to reconsider its decision was signed by 19 clubs, however the decision was not changed and the season ceased following the games held on Saturday, 22 June.[13]
The VAFA did not resume playing until1946. Around 3,000 VAFA players and officials served in World War II.[5][14]
| 1940 VAFA A Section season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 10 |
| Minor premiers | University Blacks |
| Leading goalkicker | R. Flegg[18] (Ormond − 51 goals) |
University Blacks andCollegians both finished with the same amount of points and one loss each, with the Blacks ahead on percentage.[1] The article fromThe Herald included the premiership points for all clubs, excludingState Savings Bank.[19]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Blacks | 1 | 24 | ||||||
| 2 | Collegians | 1 | 24 | ||||||
| Ormond | 20 | ||||||||
| Coburg | 20 | ||||||||
| Ivanhoe | 16 | ||||||||
| Brunswick | 12 | ||||||||
| Elsternwick | 12 | ||||||||
| Malvern | 8 | ||||||||
| Old Scotch | 4 | ||||||||
| State Savings Bank | ? |
Source:[1][19]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
| 1940 VAFA B Section season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 6 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Paradians | |||||||||
| Footscray TSOB | |||||||||
| MHSOB | |||||||||
| Parkside | |||||||||
| St Paul's (Ascot Vale) | |||||||||
| Old Melburnians |
Source:[1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
| 1940 VAFA C Section North season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 8 |
The final game betweenMyer andFairfield was abandoned.[1]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alphington | |||||||||
| Heidelberg West | |||||||||
| Pascoe Vale | |||||||||
| UHSOB | |||||||||
| Parkside | |||||||||
| Power House | |||||||||
| Myer | |||||||||
| Fairfield |
Source:[1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
| 1940 VAFA C Section South season | |
|---|---|
| Teams | 10 |
The final game betweenCaulfield Grammarians andSouth Caulfield was abandoned.[1]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton TSOB | |||||||||
| Mt Carmel Old Collegians | |||||||||
| Glen Huntly | |||||||||
| Murrumbeena | |||||||||
| Hampton Rovers | |||||||||
| East Malvern | |||||||||
| Sandringham | |||||||||
| South Camberwell | |||||||||
| Caulfield Grammarians | |||||||||
| South Caulfield |
Source:[1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.